Where did the Watchtower Org learn its Mind Control techniques ?

by wobble 43 Replies latest jw friends

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  cameo-d

  It all started with the Mystery Schools.

  The "gods" were located at Mt. Carmel.

  These angel/alien/demons taught them simple science tricks...the "magic" to awe and wow the crowds. They also taught these 'prophets" the psychology of the hidden hand and how to control and manipulate people. This appealed to their hunger for power and also fattened their pocketbooks.

  In exchange for this knowledge, these magi covenated to provide blood sacrifices for these alien angels.

  For some reason they need our blood.

  The people who are orchestrating religions at the very top of the pinnacles are still under covenant with them.

  The GB ain't that smart and neither are some of the other big religious figureheads.

  There is no way that these men could carry out a global conspiracy of religious deception by themselves!

  I am sure at elder's schools they are taught simple psychology of manipulating through the drama interaction skits. How to block the coke machine, etc.

  I wonder why elders on this board do not disclose the particulars.

  here's a bit of info, too: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/170746/1/Egyptian-Mystery-Schools
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  FlyingHighNow

  I believe any fear based belief system is about mind control. Fear of god(s) is the biggest fear you can manipulate susceptable people with.
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  diamondiiz

  Just as other fenatical, extremist religions think of themselves better than others that attitude grows. With a leader making himself a god like Rutherford did those that followed had to subject themselves to him without asking questions and that's how it all started. Fear of loosing friends and family will push followers to ignore dangerous signs and will only give more fuel to the leaders to abuse their "brothers" of followers. From the history it seems that Rutherford was the start of most "mind control" in the religion which only grew from then on.
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  Satanus

  Cameo

  Cult leaders don't need these techniques transmitted from an outside source. While they are in simpler form, they are present among the animal kingdom, those that have more developed social structures, such as monkeys and wolves. Cults and their controlling methods are a throwback, a step backwords towards the animal, which we all have within us. Rutherford was a smart alpha male.

  S
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  watson

  I think they came by it accidentally.

  5 meetings a week, field service on the weekends, daily text, family study, personal study, prayers before every meal, prayers before every gathering.....1 convention, 2 assemblies, 2 circuit servant visits.....special talk, memorial "celebration," quick builds, elder meetings.....

  Repetition my good friend. They get a "G."
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  Lady Lee

  The mind control techniques by Rutherford and succeeding WTS leaders are no different than any adult uses who abuses his wife or children. Kidnap victims who remain with their captors for any amount to time are subjected to the same techniques also. It is also common in families where there is substance abuse and it is well know that Rutherford was an alcoholic.

  In the book 40 Years a Watch Tower Slave Schnell discusses how Rutherford systematically tried out various techniques on JWs and then imported the more successful practices back to the US.

  So not only did Rutherford use what he already knew, most likely from his own childhood experiences, but he found ways to refine them to gain the greatest advantage over those JWs who followed him after Russell died.

  People who grow up in these families don't need to have a list of what the techniques are. They learn them from birth and take them with them into their adult lives, sometimes to re-inact the abuse onto their families or as the victims of abusers. The patterns repeat themselves from one generation to the next.

  The only way to end the cycle is to learn what the techniques are and fins ways to overcome them.
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  JimmyPage

  I just want to give kudos to Wobble for asking the question. I think we've all wondered it from time to time but why I've never seen a thread on it before is puzzling. This to me is one of the most interesting subjects I've seen on the board lately.
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  The Almighty Homer

  From the history it seems that Rutherford was the start of most "mind control" in the religion which only grew from then on.

  I would have to agree with that, Rutherford was indeed a power playing opportunist if there ever was one.

  This is a guy who sat as a Judge briefly but was more a lawyer for the WTS. , but insisted in carrying the title Judge wherever he went.

  On the other hand Russell was more of a opportunistic salesman/businessman and that was his profession, he essentially create the power

  and the money of the organization and then Rutherford seized it for the betterment of himself. President Rutherford must have really sounded good to him.
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  Mrs. Fiorini

  I agree with the posters who say you don't have to take a class to learn mind control techniques if you want to start a cult. The professionals who have discussed these mind control techniques are only describing what they have observed being done. Abusive individuals know instinctively how to control and manipulate others. I believe Hassan pointed out that a number of cult leaders had previous involvement with abusive groups before they started their own cult. This supports the idea that it is similar to abuse in families that gets passed on from one generation to the next.

  As for when in the WT's history it started, I've seen postings on this board of an old newspaper, The Brooklyn Eagle if I'm remembering correctly, that quoted people who were concerned about Charles Russell's policies even then. One interviewee said that a number of families in England were being torn apart because some who had been involved with Russell quit following him, and their family members who were still loyal to Russell were told to cut off any who had left his group. That sounds pretty cultish to me. I think this organization was abusive and dangerous from the beginning, each successive leader or group of leaders putting their own spin on it, but continuing the same methods.
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  quietlyleaving

  I'm fascinated by the spell the Romans cast on the world. Their political and societal model of controlling disparate groups is breathtaking. But I agree that the Jehovahs Witness hierachy has been refined by what has has been found to work over time, as Mickey Mouse said, and by the strong influence of leaders like Russell, Rutherford and Knorr.

  Hand and hand with this I do wonder how much leaders like Franz read and were influenced by philosophical and metaphysical literature in addition to the bible. I was amazed to discover recently that some of their most "spiritual insights", that have kept ordinary JWs enthralled, were already in circulation among trends towards idealism.